Bayern aim to make most of home advantage against Liverpool PAGE 18 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019

Qatar stars Younousse, Tijan get set for Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2019 PAGE 19 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BAYERN VS LIVERPOOL (11 PM) Bounedjah strikes for Al Sadd Striker’s injury-time goal gives hosts 1-0 win over Persepolis IKOLI VICTOR

STARS deliver big just when needed. Striker Baghdad Bounedjah did a similar act for Al Sadd on Tuesday scoring a dramatic injury-time winner as the hosts beat Iranian gi- ants Persepolis 1-0 in their Group D match of the AFC Champions League at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tues- day. The burly Algerian thump- ing header secured the first three points for the Qatari Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah (left) and his teammates (right) celebrate their AFC Champions League Group D match win against Iran’s stars league leaders. It was Persepolis at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. (AFP) also Bounedjah’s 35th goal of the season, having pumped 13 away from the hands of Perse- out for off side. save to stop the striker’s curl- Alipour who was goal bound in goals the last season. end contest in the opening Bounedjah assisting the Asian polis custodian Alireza Beiran- The home team raised ing shot in the 58th minute. stoppage time. Al Sadd are now third in minutes. It was the visitors Cup winner. At the other end, vand. Ali Alipour then stole their game in the second half There was a penalty appeal Bounedjah thumping head- the group with three points tied Persepolis who had the first Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al the ball off Pedro Miguel and with a number of chances but by the Al Sadd players that was er from close range to the bot- with Al Ahli, while Pakhtakor sight at goal in the ninth Sheeb produced a stunning had a go at goal but saw his that couldn’t beat the impres- ignored by the referee in the tom left corner wins the match lead with four points. minute when Mahdi Torabi’s reflex save to deny Ahmed left-footed shot go wide. sive Persepolis custodian. 78th minute. Then Persepo- for Al Sadd in the last action of The match started on fren- right-footed shot was blocked. Noorollahi. At the stroke of half-time, First was stopping Hamid Is- lis had a counter-attack with the game in the 95th minute. zy note with both team looking Three minutes later, it was In the 35th minute, Al Sadd had the ball in the net mael’s canon shot and another keeper Al Sheeb keeping out Haydos floated cross inside the for their first win in the com- Akram Afif’s curling strike Bounedjah passed the ball to after Bounedjah nodded in save to deny Bounedjah in the the a ramping Bashar. box was directed to Bouned- petition. Both sides’ attacking just inches away missed tar- Afif, who gave himself space from close range but the as- 50th minute. He was on hand provided jah’s path by the towering fig- players displayed an end-to- get following a deflection with but failed to direct his header sistant referee ruled the effort again to produce a magnificent adequate cover as he waded off ure of Abdelkarim Hasan.

Double strike sees Duhail suffer reversal

AFC Eduardo whose effort went inches winning a corner kick straight after RIYADH above the crossbar. play was restarted. Giovinco deliv- The partnership delivered Al ered an in-swinging cross into the A three-minute double-salvo late Hilal’s first goal in the 25th minute far post that was chested over the into the second half secured a 3-1 after Bassam al Rawi misplaced his line by defender Ali Al Bulayhi. win for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal over pass and was duly punished. Before Rui Faria’s men could Al Duhail of Qatar at the King Saud Mohammed Kanno intercepted regroup after going behind again, University Stadium on Matchday the ball and fed Giovinco who con- they were hit with the final blow in Two of the 2019 AFC Champions trolled and sent Eduardo one-on- the 79th minute. League Group C on Tuesday. one with the goalkeeper. The Al Hi- Al Duhail will look to get back to Both sides had started their lal captain kept his composure and winning ways when they welcome campaigns with a win, Al Hilal over- applied the finish from inside the Al Ain on April 8 in Doha, while Al coming Al Ain 1-0 and Al Duhail box to open the scoring. Hilal visit the Qatari capital on the putting three past Esteghlal in their Shoya Nakajima drew Al Duhail same day as they look to extend respective group openers. level 15 minutes before the end of the their winning run at the expense of Sebastian Giovinco and Ed- first half. The Japanese international Esteghlal on Matchday Three. uardo were a constant nuisance to pounced on a poor headed clearance Result: Al Hilal 3 (Carlos Eduardo the Qatari defence throughout. The by Mohammed Jahfali to control and 25’, Ali Hadi Albulayhi 77’, Bafétimbi pair combined as early as the fifth drill home the equaliser with his left. Gomis 79’) bt Al Duhail 1 (Shoya minute with the Italian crossing for Al Hilal responded instantly, Nakajima 75’). Live TV start, thrilling new stage for Manateq Qatar International Rally TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

OFFICIALS at the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) are putting the final touches to a ground- breaking new start to this weekend’s Manateq Qatar International Rally. A later than usual start is planned at Souk al Wakrah to draw in spectators for an exciting new su- per special stage, where drivers will compete in pairs against each other on Thursday evening. The first national rally crews will take to the start line at 21.05hrs and the international runners head into action from 21.25hrs. The thrilling side-by-side action will be filmed live by Al Rayyan television. Qatar’s world champion rallyist Nasser Saleh al Attiyah checks out his new Revisions to the rally timeta- Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 at Lusail ahead of Manateq Qatar International Rally. ble have now been issued by the QMMF. Thursday (March 14) will To add that little extra spice Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution along- be a hectic day at both the Lusail to the opening ceremony and first side former MERC series runner-up Sports Club and at Souk al Wakrah day’s time schedule, Batabit has Nasser Khalifa al Attiyah, reigning later in the evening. organised a motorcade that will MERC 3 champion Henry Kahy, After technical scrutineering run from Doha to Al Wakrah and Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled and the at Lusail between 08.00hrs and Manateq’s CEO Fahad Rashed al Qatari duo of Mohammed al Meer 13.00hrs, the event will move to Kaabi is planning a run through the and Rashid al Mohannadi. Souk al Wakrah for the remainder stage after all the competition cars The RS-Team will also run a of the day. have completed the special. seventh vehicle in the Manateq Qa- Several of the leading competi- The largest fleet of cars taking tar National Rally for Nadim Ziade tors will attend the official pre-event part in this week’s are being sup- in his trusty little Renault Clio RS. press conference at 19.50hrs and ported and managed on the event The meat of the action will this precedes the ceremonial start by the Lebanese-based RS-Team. take place over 10 gravel spe- from 20.15hrs and the much antici- Defending MERC 2 champion cial stage to the north of Doha on pated new super special stage. Meshari al Thefiri will line up in his Friday and Saturday. Sports Wednesday, March 13, 2019 17 Preparations under way for 12th Artistic Gymnastics Meet Mamlouk, the young World Cup in Doha QNA DOHA female referee on a mission THE Organising Committee of the 12th Artistic Gymnas- HEN Rayan Mamlouk started tics World Cup-Doha is busy playing football in Lebanon preparing for the tournament in 2016, she took an immedi- scheduled for March 20-23 Wate liking to the game and saw with a record of 58 countries Executive Director of the great potential to bring people together and a total of 230 gymnasts Organising Committee and through the sport. Three years later, the participating for the first time President of the Qatar Gym- 20-year-old Generation Amazing youth in the tournament’s history. nastics Federation Ali al Hitmi ambassador and women’s football ref- The Organising Commit- said that the committee is cur- eree is changing the lives of others girls tee is keen to host the 12th rently arranging everything and boys through the beautiful game edition in an amazing manner in order to give the gymnasts – and helping to bring together young following the success of the the opportunity to train be- people from different communities. 2018 World Artistic Gymnas- fore the tournament. He noted After taking a girls’ ‘train the train- tics Championships held in that many countries have con- er’ course delivered by the Norwegian October last. The Aspire Dome firmed their early arrivals. Football Association, and learning is being readied which will be Hitmi said that the Organ- more about the game at Juventus the main venue for the compe- izing Committee indicated Academy in Lebanon, Rayan’s desire titions. that 58 countries will partici- to integrate the different groups living Meanwhile, the Libyan pate in the 12th edition, a re- together in her community grew. Also in Pakistan, more girls are taking up football through delegation, which is partici- cord number, but some teams “Three years ago I began play- Generation Amazing programme. pating for the first time in the had difficulties in participat- ing football and I saw the potential to World Cup, arrived in Doha ing. change the lives of others and help con- on Tuesday. The Libyan team He highlighted that seven nect people through sport,” said Rayan, to promote gender equality. through an academy of her will hold a camp in Doha be- Arab countries will participate who’s a big fan of Juventus and Cris- “Having the support of own. fore the official launch of the in the tournament: Morocco, tiano Ronaldo. Generation Amazing has “I dream of doing my championship in a bid get ac- Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and “Last year I joined the American I see a lot of challenges for girls been invaluable for me,” doctorate and becom- cclimatised. Libya, besides hosts Qatar. Near East Refugee Aid organisation to take part in sports. So she continued. “It is in- ing a professor of and became a Generation Amazing spirational for us all to physical education, youth ambassador in order to help through our Generation be involved in a lega- to help develop the bring young people from different Amazing activities, we put in cy programme of the importance and Quick read backgrounds together. Through our place rules in the games which World Cup in Qatar, prestige of sport work in schools in the community, we encourage inclusive behaviour an event that we are within society. are creating common ground for com- all looking forward to When I finish my MMA star McGregor arrested in munities from Palestine, Syria and and acceptance of one another. as the first in the region. education, I want Miami after run-in with fan Lebanon and changing the way people Rayan Mamlouk Generation Amazing to create an acad- view the participation of girls in sport.” helps me to achieve my emy for girls and MIAMI: Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor was arrested Rayan has been involved with sport goals by allowing me to boys to be able to Monday by American police for allegedly smashing a fan’s cell phone since 2010, when she took part in ath- itive change in their community,” Ray- network with like-mind- play for free.” outside a Florida nightclub. letics competitions and won awards. an explains. “I see a lot of challenges for ed individuals.” While she The 30-year-old Irishman was charged with criminal mischief and Since taking up football she has also girls to take part in sports. So through With graduation just works on those strong-armed robbery after Miami police said he allegedly slapped the become an officially affiliated Leba- our Generation Amazing activities, we around the corner for future plans, phone out of the man’s hand and then stomped on it. nese Football Association referee for put in place rules in the games which her Physical Education Rayan is already Miami Beach police said they were called to the scene outside the women’s game, and takes great joy encourage inclusive behaviour and ac- degree at university, the helping to bring the LIV Nightclub at 5:00 am (0900 GMT), The Miami Herald reported. from teaching football at a local school ceptance of one another.” young community leader people together The police started their investigation and McGregor was arrested later to boys and girls between eight and 15 Through her work, Rayan – from is already planning for the and enhance gender that day at a nearby home and then booked into the Miami-Dade jail. years old. the Lebanese city of Tyre – has suc- future. And she hopes to equality in her com- According the arrest report, the fan tried to take a photo of “The most important thing for me ceeded in using football for develop- come back full circle munity, one training McGregor using his mobile phone, valued at $1,000. The robbery was is to inspire the young children and ment training to enhance social cohe- and inspire a new session at a time. caught on surveillance cameras set up around the club and the nearby Rayan give them the life skills through football sion in her community, reducing crime generation of Fontainebleau Hotel. McGregor is a mixed martial arts star who is best Mamlouk which will help them contribute to pos- and anti-social behaviour, and helping young leaders SC.QA known for losing to boxing icon Floyd Mayweather in a 2017 boxing match. McGregor was also arrested last year in New York. (AFP)

Blancaneaux wins Qatar Men’s ITF World Tour Tokyo Olympics 2020 unveils 50 official pictograms IANS TOKYO

THE Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 on Tues- day unveiled the official sport pictograms, some of which were originally introduced at the Tokyo Olympics of 1964. Although there are 33 sports in the competition, the set released consists of 50 pic- tograms because some have several disciplines that have also been represented, the Olympic Committee said, re- ports Efe news. Japan’s 4x100 metre relay Rio 2016 silver medallist Shota Iizuka, national karate team member Kiyo The pictograms were un- Shimizu and elementary school students display sports pictograms for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games veiled during a ceremony mark- during an unveiling ceremony in Tokyo on Tuesday. (AFP) ing 500 days until the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olym- zu, who was present during the committee said. were used for the first time pics, which are due to start on event, described the karate pic- The pictograms are the in the Tokyo Games 55 years July 24, 2020, and exactly one togram as “very cool”. work of the designer Masaaki ago, which became a necessity year before the Olympic torch is The pictograms, which Hiromura, who, through to help communicate visually Geoffrey Blancaneaux of France (centre), and other players with QTSBF Secretary-General Tariq Zeinal lit in Olympia, Greece. have two designs - with and them, has tried to express the with a growing group of inter- and Tournament Director Saad al Mohannadi. Blancaneaux won the Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour The event was attended by without frame - will be used dynamic beauty of the athletes national athletes and specta- title defeating Australian Jacob Grills 6-4, 6-1 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex several athletes and school- in posters, tickets, licensed and ensure they respect the tors in a country where English on Sunday. Meanwhile, the second edition of $15,000 Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour began on children who released the pic- merchandise and also during legacy of the pioneers of the is hardly spoken. Tuesday. Three Qatari players including Mousa, Mubarak Shanan and Jaber al Mutawa are participating tograms for the first time to the competition as signposts, 1964 Olympics, the committee Since then, pictograms in the tournament. the public. maps or web pages, among said in a statement. have been created for all the Karate expert Kiyo Shimi- other uses, the organising The Olympic pictograms Olympic Games. Vettel still has plenty to prove as Ferrari give fresh chase DPA start of another marathon sea- not always fair, but Formula 1 do and how we have to do it,” of the seven-time world cham- BERLIN son with 21 races as the team is not a children’s birthday,” Vettel said. pion was legendary, as was his tries to challenge the domi- Vettel told Germany’s Sport In his 13th Formula One unconditional loyalty to the FIVE is the hopefully lucky nance of Mercedes. Bild recently. year, the four-time champion team, but also his ruthlessness number for Sebastian Vettel. World champion Lewis Only Schumacher and Niki also has to face a new chal- on the race track. In his fifth year at Ferrari, he Hamilton, who won his fifth Lauda have won more races for lenge internally. His new team “Michael took Ferrari on will be behind the wheel of car drivers’ title last season, is the Scuderia than Vettel. But in colleague Charles Leclerc, 21, his shoulders and led the team number 5 seeking to become gearing up for an even stronger order to really earn a place of from Monaco is considered a out of the crisis. He was a lead- Formula One world champion Ferrari challenge amid some honour in the ancestral gallery great talent and could already er,” said former Formula 1 boss for a fifth time. uncertainty over the current of the traditional marque from embody the future after Vet- Bernie Ecclestone at the end of The Ferrari driver will be strength of Mercedes. Maranello, Vettel must finally tel, if the German does not fi- the pre-season training, add- hoping to follow in the foot- “We have to climb a moun- obtain a title. The memory of nally fulfil the title aspirations ing: “Vettel is not like that.” steps of record champion and tain, but we know how to do it,” Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 cham- of the Tifosi. Vettel will have to prove the fellow German Michael Schu- Hamilton said. pionship win, the last for Fer- Already in his last year at opposite, so as not to end up as macher, who also needed five Last season, the Mercedes rari, is faded. Red Bull, Vettel had in Daniel a failure in the Ferrari story. attempts before he won his driver began slowly, with Vet- After much change and Ricciardo a youthful challeng- At stake is also the Scude- first title with the Italian F1 tel winning the opening two some setbacks, Vettel is certain er, who showed no respect. It ria’s record of six team titles in team. Four more titles then races of the season. In the end, that Ferrari has “all the ingre- was the only season so far in series from the years 1999 to followed. however, Hamilton was un- dients together”. which Vettel lost a duel with 2004, which Mercedes could A world championship stoppable, relentlessly exploit- Mattia Binotto, who has re- a stable-mate Although Vettel equal this year. with Ferrari would be the “ul- ing the glitches and mistakes placed team principal Maurizio retains internal status, he will Others may hope to be timate,” Vettel has said before of his opponent. It was proba- Arrivabene, was involved in have to sharpen his senses if he challenging, but, it all points the season-opening race in bly one of the worst defeats for Schumacher’s title series as an wants to conquer first Leclerc to another showdown between Melbourne on March 17. Vettel, who won his four world engineer and knows the sensi- and then Hamilton. Hamilton and Vettel in a sea- With impressive best times title trophies with Red Bull. tive soul of F1’s most famous Schumacher once showed son in which Formula One will in test drives, Ferrari go to Aus- “There is a winner, the racing team. what it takes. The diligence, chalk up its 1,000th grand prix, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel tralia full of optimism at the second is the first extra. That’s “We know what we have to meticulousness and precision in Shanghai on April 14. 18 Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Sports

NEYMAR COMPLETES ASPETAR ASSESSMENT PSG CRUISE PAST DIJON IN LIGUE 1

PSG & Brazil star Neymar has left Aspertar following three days of medical assessments on his injured foot. The 27-year-old attacker has Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Kylian Mbappe (left) vies with Dijon’s defender Wesley Lautoa during the been out injured since late January with the complaint, forcing him to miss his side’s round of sixteen clashes against Manchester United, French L1 match at the Gaston-Gerard Stadium in Dijon on Tuesday. (AFP) which saw the Parisians crash out on away goals. Barcelona face Lyon, hope Bayern Munich aim to use home to avoid Real Madrid fate advantage to snuff The Catalan giants out Liverpool are favourites to qualify after a first AFP erpool side bidding for their leg 0-0 in France MUNICH first Premier League title in 29 years. BAYERN Munich coach Niko “Of course, we have to DPA Kovac and veteran ‘keeper push forward - that’s impor- BARCELONA Manuel Neuer expect to tant - but Liverpool are one make home advantage count of the best counter-attacking BARCELONA will look to in their Champions League teams and we’ll have to draw avoid the fate suffered by Real last 16 return leg on Wednes- a fine line,” said Kovac. Madrid last week when they day to bring down Liverpool “The closer we get to take on Lyon on Wednesday at at a packed Allianz Arena. the end of the season, the the Camp Nou in the Champi- After a goalless first leg stronger mentally our play- ons League last 16. draw at Anfield three weeks ers will become. They know they are fa- ago, Kovac expects both vourites to go through after sides to go in search of goals a first leg 0-0 in France but and the Bayern coach rates “I don’t think it will they also know Madrid were Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as expected to go through af- one of the world’s best coun- end 0-0, but we will ter a 2-1 away win against ter-attacking sides. receive the kind of Ajax and are now out of the “I don’t think it will end support in our stadium competition. 0-0, but we will receive the Coach Ernesto Valverde kind of support in our sta- tomorrow the likes of said: “The same thing that dium tomorrow the likes of which we haven’t seen happened to Real Madrid which we haven’t seen in a in a long time.” could happen to us. long time,” said Kovac with “So far in the Champions a sellout crowd of around League three teams who fin- 70,000 expected. “That gives us some reas- ished second in their group “We have shown lots of surance against Liverpool, have gone through to the spirit and creativity in the but we have to find a balance. quarter-finals.” Bundesliga going forward,” “We must be able to score Barcelona must take on Barcelona’s forward Ousmane Dembele, Arturo Vidal and forward at a training session at the Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant he added, as Bayern have a goal, even at the end of the French side without their Joan Despi on Tuesday, on the eve of the Champions League round of 16, second leg match against Olympique Lyonnais. (AFP) won their last three league 90 minutes.” Kovac expects flying France winger Ous- games, with a goal ratio of “form on the day” to decide mane Dembele, who has a A home victory will see 12-1, since the first leg. the result and said he had hamstring strain. Scoreline them through and Spanish “I’m in the mood to see not put Bayern through ad- His absence will be felt, sports paper Diario AS high- us play even more effectively ditional penalty shoot-out above all, because the player scenarios lighted their recent record to at home with the tailwind of practice as “you can either most likely to replace him, show how Lyon have a huge our fans.” However, Kovac do it or you can’t” when the Philippe Coutinho, is still A goalless draw on task on their hands if they are warned that if his defence pressure is on. struggling for form and was Wednesday would take to cause a shock. “take their eyes off” Liver- Both winger Kingsley whistled by his own support- the game into Since the start of the pool’s fleet-footed forwards Coman and left-back David ers at the weekend in Barce- 2014-15 season - the last Roberto Firmino, Sadio Alaba should be fit to return lona’s league win over Rayo extra-time. A 1-1 would campaign that saw Barcelona Mane or Mo Salah, “then it’s after injury, although Kovac Vallecano. see them go out. lift the European Cup - they already too late”. is without the suspended On Monday Coutinho’s have played 24 games at Bayern are bidding to Thomas Mueller. former Liverpool and current home in the competition. reach the quarter-finals for Neuer, the captain of Barcelona team-mate Luis phaned by Cristiano Ron- They won 22 of those the eighth year in a row and Bayern and Germany, is also Suarez published a photo- aldo’s move to Juventus has games with just one 0-0 and Kovac has backed his expe- expecting a gala European graph of himself with Coutin- helped the Catalan club dom- one 1-1. rienced team against a Liv- night at the Allianz Arena. ho on social media. inate their great domestic ri- A goal-less draw on He wrote: “Smile and al- vals for another season. Wednesday would take the ways be positive little broth- They are in the Copa del game into extra-time. A 1-1 er” alongside it. Rey final instead of Madrid would see them go out. Coutinho should be Lyon’s players attend a training session at the Camp Nou Stadium in having knocked them out in The second scenario will alongside Suarez and Lionel Barcelona on Tuesday. (AFP) the semi-finals. be celebrated in Madrid al- Messi against Lyon unless They are 12 points clear most as much as Monday’s coach Valverde opts to play Vidal, and Brazilian Arthur La Liga and will be looking to of them in La Liga. Now return of Zinedine Zidane. four in midfield. Melo, play alongside Ivan add to his six goals so far in they want to make it to the If it happens, the Barca That option would see Rakitic and Sergio Busquets. the Champions League. last eight of the Champions players will not be able to Barcelona’s pre-season mid- As always, Messi will be The fact that Messi still League and give themselves say they were not warned field recruits, the former the most decisive factor. He reigns at Barcelona while a chance of taking Madrid’s against complacency by Bayern Munich player Arturo has 26 goals in 25 games in Real Madrid have been or- now vacant crown. their coach. Bale tough enough to deal with Real Madrid boo-boys: Giggs

AFP pions League trophies in the sacked Santiago Solari ing of the ways appears more Slovakia on March 24. LONDON Spain but has been consist- may also make the situation likely. “He’s an experienced ently relegated to the bench more difficult for Bale. The Welshman is cur- player. He’s a quality RYAN Giggs has backed star in recent weeks as Real’s sea- Bale and Zidane were rently nursing an ankle in- player and a quality per- man Gareth Bale to shine for son has unravelled. barely speaking during the jury suffered on Champions son,” Giggs said after nam- Wales despite his problems The 29-year-old’s limited second half of last season League duty but Wales boss ing a 31-man squad for a at Real Madrid, where he has integration into Spanish life and Bale is understood to Giggs is confident that he Wrexham friendly with Trin- Bayern Munich’s striker (left) and Thomas been targeted by disgruntled has also drawn fire and Mon- be less than enthused by the will have recovered in time idad and Tobago on March Mueller prior to their training session on the eve of their fans. day’s return of Zinedine Zi- Frenchman’s return. A clean to play in Wales’s opening 20 and the Slovakia game in Champions League round of 16 match against Liverpool in Bale has won four Cham- dane as manager in place of slate is possible but a part- Euro 2020 qualifier against Cardiff. Munich on Tuesday. (AFP) Sports Wednesday, March 13, 2019 19 Main round of the Katara Beach Open from today Commercial Bank to sponsor veteran Nasser Khalifa for FIA MERC The veteran rally driver will also lead road safety drives in partnership with the bank

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ni in the 1993 MERC, will also share his vast DOHA experience as an administrator in road safety campaigns and educating the young generation FEELING encouraged by his third-place finish about safe driving and riding as well. at the 2018 Kuwait Rally, Nasser Khalifa al At- Speaking at Commercial Bank Plaza, Attiya tiya will tackle the full programme of the FIA commented: “I am excited to be taking part in Middle East Rally Championship 2019 in Ford the upcoming Middle East Rally Champion- Fiesta R5 with experienced Italian co-driver Ni- ship, which kicks off in Qatar this weekend. The coal Arena. Middle East Rally Championship is one of my The FIA MERC is scheduled to start at the favourite competitions and one of my greatest oriental Souq Waqif in Doha this week. achievements in my sporting career. There is Commercial Bank will support Nasser Khal- no greater feeling than being able to play the ifa in all five rallies at this year’s FIA MERC. sport you love in your own country and I’d like Nasser Khalifa and Commercial Bank EGM and to thank Commercial Bank for their support in Chief Marketing Officer Hussein al Abdullah making this happen.” signed a contract on Tuesday. “I’m returning to the full calendar after 22 Abdullah commented after the signing cer- long years. There are many younger and faster emony: “At Commercial Bank, we are always drivers in the rally. I will use R5 and hopefully, I proud to support influential individuals in the will be able to pull off some surprises, using my sports industry. Our sponsorship of Nasser big experience,” he added. Qatar’s Cherif Younousse (left) and Ahmed Tijan celebrate their gold medal win at the AVC Aspire Beach Volleyball Qatar Masters in Doha. They are Khalifa is in line with our Corporate Social Re- “With co-driver Arena, I did have an unof- top-seeded in the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup of which the main round is scheduled to start at the Katara Cultural Village from Wednesday. sponsibility initiative, which is an integral part ficial shakedown and will have a recce on the of our business as it comes within the Qatar scheduled day. Over the years, the technology National Vision 2030 and aims to promote a has advanced so much and I need to be familiar healthy and active lifestyle. with that. I’ve not driven R5 in the rally before. “We’re very happy to support him during Initially, I’ll not focus on results. But with time, Younousse, Tijan the rallies. I encourage everyone to attend the I’ll be able to do better. Right now, I’m however rally this weekend, which is set to be one of the very excited with my return,” he added. most exciting editions of the MERC to date. Our Nasser Khalifa launched many road safety very own Nasser Khalifa al Attiya will be taking drives and campaigns with FIM, FIA and Unit- part, and that is something you do not want to ed Nations. He hopes to help the Qatari soci- aim to improve on miss!,” added Abdullah. ety again through the assistance of his sponsor Besides promoting Commercial Bank dur- Commercial Bank. ing the rallies, Nasser Khalifa, who was runner- The MERC rounds will be held in Qatar, 2018 Katara bronze up to compatriot Sheikh Hamed bin eid al Tha- Jordan, Cyprus, Lebanon and Kuwait. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 2-1 and had famously beat- and the gold medals at the competing following anoth- DOHA en the American duo in the Asian Games and the AVC er change to their line-ups. bronze medal clash at Katara Asian Beach Volleyball Cham- Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olym- CHERIF Younousse and last season. pionships . pic Games gold medallist Ahmed Tijan, the bronze med- Qatar’s leading pair are Alexander Brouwer and and Netherlands 2015 world allists last year, will be out to top-seeded for the tourna- Robert Meeuwsen return to champion Bruno Schmidt will claim more hometown glory ment that will conclude on Doha to defend the gold they compete alongside Austria when they return to FIVB March 16 and will take place won in 2018, and the Dutch 2017 world champion Evan- Beach Volleyball World Tour at the Katara Cultural Village pair have been seeded sev- dro Goncalves for the first action at the 4-Star Katara for the second year in a row. enth. time. Meanwhile their most Beach Volleyball Cup in Doha. It is the fifth time that the Qa- Brouwer and Meeuwsen, recent partners, Pedro Sol- The main round is sched- tari capital has hosted a World the world champions in 2013, berg and Vitor Felipe, will also uled to start on Wednesday Tour event since it first played are chasing their first World make their World Tour debut with the Qatari duo taking on host in 2014. Tour medals since they won as a pairing. Oman’s Nouh al Jalbubi and Qatar’s second pair of gold at the 1-Star Aalsmeer Phil Dalhausser and Nick Mazin Alhashmi in their first- Tamer Abdelrasoul and Assam tournament that came a Lucena are seeded first and ever meeting at 1 pm. Ahmed Mahmoud are placed week after the 2018 Katara while the Americans finished Other two pairs in their in the in Group B and will face Open. They began the year outside the medals with pool are Canadians Sam Ped- second seeds Michal Bryl and with a quarter-final finish at fourth place in 2018, they low and Sam Schachter Cana- Grzegorz Fijalek of Poland. The Hague 4-Star in the first have good memories of com- da (16th seeds) and Americans After their first-ever third- week of January and Doha peting in Doha having won Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lu- place finish here, Cherif and will be their first tournament silver there in 2015 which cena (17th seeds). Younousse Ahmed won added another since then. helped them in their late run Nasser Khalifa al Attiyah with CB EGM & CMO Hussein al Abdullah after signing the sponsorship deal for and Tijan lead the Canadians bronze at the Vienna 5-Star Brazil have two new teams to qualify for Rio 2016. the FIA MERC in Doha on Tuesday. (HANSON K JOSEPH) Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2019 ROC organisers give tips begins with qualifiers to motorists & cyclists TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Ali al Kuwari, Managing DOHA DOHA Director of the Ride of Cham- pions, said: “We hope all mo- THE Katara Beach Volleyball QATAR Cyclists Centre, the torists and cyclists will come Cup 2019 kicked off on Tues- organisers of the 2019 Oore- together to help make this a day for the second year in a doo Ride of Champions (www. safe and fun event for all and row with the participation of rocdoha.qa) are requesting showcase it not only for the 64 teams from 29 countries. motorists and cyclists to move nation but also for cycling The opening of the excit- carefully this Friday morn- world.”. ing event was attended by a ing when the event is on from Captain Fahad Hilal Bu- number of officials from Qatar 6:30-11:30am handi of the Traffic Police Airways and representatives With over 1500 cyclists and Traffic Police vehicles and said: “It is our pleasure to pro- of the Qatar Volleyball Asso- participating in the 2019 Ride marshalls will be on route to vide support, including rolling ciation with the qualification of Champions, roads in Doha ensure safety. road closures for the riders’ matches between 32 teams be- from Qatar Foundation via Traffic police are support- safety. We ask motorists to ing played on the opening day. Dukhan highway to Shahani- ing the event with 10 police take care of the riders, listen to Eight teams will qualify for ya, Otouriyah and Jumailiyah cars and 20 motorbikes. organizer, marshall and police the main round, which will in- will see the record cyclists tak- Dr Abdulazziz al Kuwari, instructions and help make clude 22 teams of elite players ing to the street. President of Qatar Cyclists this event a huge success. As from all over the world. Motorists are asked to take Center comments “firstly I an entity we are committed to Fulvio Daniellas, techni- due care around the cyclists, want to thank Ministry of health and fitness of our of- cal delegate of the tourna- and help this fantastic festival Interior represented by Traf- ficers and the public and are ment said the tournament is of sport to happen safely. fic Police Department for proud to be a key supporter of expected to see challenging A view of the Katara Cultural Village main court which is hosting the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2019 in Signs will be up at inter- their invaluable support to an initiative that supports this duels as the world’s best pairs Doha. The qualifiers began on Tuesday and the event will conclude on March 16. sections to warn motorists the event, without which the mission.” will be aiming to achieve best when they are coming to an event could not be delivered results to lift their world rank- in a very record time given in this sport and that the com- Katara Beach Volleyball Cup intersection with the route, safely.” ROC TIPS ings, which will determine the the recent era of international petition between them is very has received accolades from participants of the upcoming championships of this popular strong to get the highest points international volleyball asso- Event organisers have issued the following tips to Olympic Games in Tokyo next sport. to participate in the world ciations on their first day. The motorists and cyclists: year 2020, which adds to the Mohammed al Kuwari, championships. facilities available have been Top tips for motorists when driving around cyclists importance of this tourna- General Coordinator of Qa- Speaking about Qatar’s praised by the participating - Drive slow and with enough free space when over- ment. tar Volleyball Association, level in volleyball, Kuwari players. taking cyclists - Be careful of marshals and police officers on route “The facilities are top class confirmed that all arrange- noted that Qatar jumped from “We wanted to introduce - Allow cyclist to pass infront before turning onto road and everyone is impressed ments are in the place. Qa- 22nd place to eighth place in Qatar’s landmarks by hosting - If passing cyclist, allow more than 1.5M gap with the unique venue, es- tar’s two teams -- A (Cherif the world last year, which is a this world championship and between you and cyclist pecially the arena’s open-air Younousse and Ahmed Tijan) huge achievement. Katara was chosen because it - Don’t take any unnecessary risks stage and its beautiful view. It and B (Tamer and Mahmoud) “Despite the young age of is an important symbol that Top tips for cyclists for riding around motorists is also a great place for fans to - would be among the hot fa- Qatari players and their expe- reflects our culture and iden- - Waive thank you to courteous drivers enjoy the matches with all the vourites. Oman has also been rience we were able to jump to tity,” said Al-Kuwari. - Don’t accelerate to prevent cars turning or changing comfort,” said Daniellas. granted the wild card to par- the eighth rank in the world This year, Katara has add- lanes - Be mindful of traffic and don’t take unnecessary The former Brazilian coach ticipate in the tournament. which gives the pair significant ed a number of activities that risks also revealed the remarkable Kuwari added that the boost to participate in world will allow the public to be a - Ride two by two in columns development of the Qatari players participating in the championships,” he said. part of this exceptional sport- - Stay in the inside lane to allow space to pass teams and their development tournament are world elites Kuwari added that the ing event.